Late Bloomers are the Norm

As my eldest is getting ready to go to college, I’m thinking how absurd it is to expect 17 and 18-year olds to settle on career pursuits?!Though, looking back, I - for sure - did not think it was absurd when I was 18. I knew, knew, knew I wanted to be a writer. Don’t ask me what kind of writer. At 18, I thought there was only one kind.

At 22, I shifted my pursuits to public relations and communications. Believe me when I say this profession was unheard of when I was in high school.

In my 30s, I realized my interests - which still included writing and communicating with people - were focused more on the people operations at my organization. Opportunity presented me with a shift into human resources and I took it. My 18-year-old self is shaking her head. “Human what!?”

In my early 40s and with much reflection on my life’s purpose (no, I did NOT say mid-life crisis), I narrowed in on my love for training and development, and helping people discover their own potential.

Now here I am, combining and creating my own path from all of the career interests I loved and my experiences as a mom, a writer, a communications and HR professional, and a coach. Some may say I’m a late bloomer. I say I’m more like a perennial, and I’m not alone. In the book LATE BLOOMERS, by Rich Kaarlgaard, the author argues that this is a good thing. The executive function of our brains is not fully developed until the age of 25, and even then, many of us peak later in life or our brains experience growth many times over the years.

My 18-year-old self is overwhelmed and awed. She had no clue where the path she chose would lead. That’s why, for my own daughter and as part of my coaching practice, I’m focused more on where to start, not where to go. Young people deserve to start their lives with less anxiety, more confidence, and feeling prepared to greet new opportunities.

If you want the same for your child, schedule an info session with me here: https://atthestart.as.me/!